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Transforming Public Procurement
The Procurement Bill, which will reform the existing Procurement Rules, is currently progressing through Parliament. Once it has completed its passage and received Royal Assent, which should be within the next four to six weeks, there will then need to be secondary legislation (regulations) made to bring some elements of the Bill and the wider regime into effect.
You will be given a minimum of six months’ notice before ‘go-live’, which we anticipate will be in October 2024. The existing legislation will apply until the new regime goes live, and will also continue to apply to procurements started under the old rules.
Guidance will be provided to cover the transition from the old to the new regulations, and a comprehensive programme of learning and development will support professionals to implement the changes.
Understanding the potential of licensing frameworks and teams to tackle modern slavery (Shiva Foundation report)
The Shiva Foundation has released a report – Understanding the potential of licensing frameworks and teams to tackle modern slavery in the UK – which makes recommendations for strengthening statutory guidance and explores the opportunities for licensing authorities and practitioners to utilise tools at their disposal to enhance local anti-modern slavery responses. The report outlines: how national licensing guidance can be strengthened to tackle modern slavery across the UK, how councils can update local licensing policies to directly address modern slavery and how local licensing teams can practically confront modern slavery in their daily operations.
Community Ownership Fund – latest round now open
The Government has announced the latest round of funding from the Community Ownership Fund. £12.3 million will be allocated to local pubs, museums and sports clubs across the United Kingdom to ensure that they can continue to be owned and run by local community groups. The fund is currently open again for bids and will close on Wednesday 11 October. For the first time, groups are being urged to apply for up to £2 million in funding.
Heat Network Efficiency Scheme – latest round now open
The Government has opened Round 5 of the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES). The scheme supports performance improvements to existing district heating or communal heating projects and closes for new applications on Friday 10 November.
Flexible working in social care
We've joined forces with the Social Workers Union to help promote our resources aimed at supporting flexible working in social care teams. We've published on flexible working in social care including guidance, practical tips and pitfalls to avoid to help you make flexible working part of your wider agile working arrangements.
We’re seeking a small number of councils to test these resources. Over an 18-week period, we will work alongside councils to test a different approach to flexible working in a couple of the council's teams to help build capacity and confidence for wider implementation. Please email pch@local.gov.uk if you might be able to help.
Children’s social care
The Department for Education has published its responses to two recent children’s social care consultations – Stable Homes, Built on Love and a national framework and dashboard.
Youth services statutory guidance refresh
The Government has updated its youth services statutory guidance which sets out how local authorities should secure services for young people under section 507B of the Education Act (1996). This is an update to the previous guidance which was reviewed in 2012. It relates to local authorities’ duty to secure services and activities for young people aged 13 to 19, and those with learning difficulties to age 24, to improve their wellbeing.
Procurement Reform roadshows (Newcastle, Birmingham, Norwich, Bristol, Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham)
Tuesday 3 October–21 November | Various locations
G-Cloud 13 – what can I buy and how can I buy it? (Crown Commercial Service webinar)
Wednesday 4 October, 10.30am–11.30am | Virtual
Modern slavery risk assessment and due diligence guidelines for adult social care (LGA virtual event)
Tuesday 31 October, 10.30am–12.00pm | Virtual
Procurex Cymru / Wales
Wednesday 8 November | Utilita Arena, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff CF10 2EQ
iNetwork Annual Conference
Thursday 30 November | Hyatt Regency Manchester, 55 Booth Street West, Manchester M15 6PQ and virtual
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